Xaos - Chaos Magick

A Tao Master versus a Magickian

You might notice on my Twitter account (ChaosMagick) that I’m currently re-reading ‘Condensed Chaos’ by Phil Hine. I like to tweet observations and ideas from the books I’m reading hard.

I was stricken by how Mr. Hine’s description of a magickian (a creature that develops over time with practice and experience) reminded me of Chaper 15 of the Tao te Ching where the legendary author describes a Tao master.

Consider chaper 15 TTC:

“irresolute like those who are afraid of all around them;
gravelike a guest (in awe of his host);
evanescent like ice that is melting away;
unpretentious like wood that has not been fashioned into anything;
vacant like a valley, and dull like muddy water.”

(other translations may convey further feelings) and compare to chapter 3 of CC by Phil Hine:

“A magician is constantly aware of his inner structures, and that which is around him. He constantly strives to extend his possibilities for action, patient, yet aware of the necessity sometimes, of going too far in all directions.”

23 January 2010 • magick tao

Magick: a last resort - Guest Post from Siafanar

I don’t use magick often enough, that I know. When I have used it, it’s been successful, and yet my life isn’t entirely successful (far from it currently), so why don’t I make more use of the natural power I have?

Mostly it’s through fear. Take these two current examples:

I’ve been going through a tremendously difficult time with my partner, and I’ve known all along that I could use magick to influence his behaviour. I haven’t done so until now because I have a problem with influence when it comes to the behaviour of others. I don’t want him to be nice to me because I’ve willed him to make me a cup of tea; I want him to do it with his own free will. But eventually there comes a time when I just want to live in a friendlier environment, and so I did cast a spell last night, and he did bring me a cup of tea this morning.

Do I feel good about it? Not overly so, because I can’t keep using my energy to influence him, but I’m hoping that a little magickal prompting will encourage him to recognise that when I’m happier, his life will be happier too. I won’t keep doing it, but at least in the meantime I can live in a calmer environment and have the time and space I need to work out what practical changes are needed in order for me to be happier long term.

The other example is my emotional health. I’d love to be able to say that the depressions which crush me are purely a result of external factors. I’m sure they play a part, but like many ‘creative’ types I’ve battled with my inner self for many years, and dark depressions are a side-effect of the creative manias that inspire and energise my projects and plans. Mostly I can deal with them, but sometimes they become out of control.

I’ve been through such an episode lately, and as in the past I’ve refused to rely on magick to heal myself. The reason for this, again, is fear. I’m not a ‘professional’ when it comes to magick. I rely on natural ability and raw talent, very raw. Healing magick (on an emotional level) is potentially dangerous for me if I get it wrong. I can help heal someone else very safely if I either have no feelings for that person, or if I only have good feelings for them. I rarely only have good feelings for myself, and so I risk my castings being contaminated with negativity. I’ve caused myself more harm than good in the past by attempting to heal myself magickally; I’m a danger to myself, and so I will only resort to magick as a way of healing my damaged mind if I’ve got nothing to lose. I knew I’d have to reach rock bottom before risking it – a state where I no longer feel anything for myself – good or bad.

It’s difficult to get the timing right – for me, there’s only a small window of opportunity when there’s enough numbness and lack of feeling, and yet still enough energy. It happened during the night and I took the opportunity. I slept soundly afterwards and I woke this morning feeling, not perfect, but good enough to be able to help myself back up and out through the darkness, and a great deal better than I have for a few weeks.
Magick is powerful and I never underestimate its force or potential. I could use it more, I should use it more, and I certainly intend to do so this year. I just need to work on conquering that fear!

Siafanar

twitter.com/siafanar

This guest post has been brough to you by the letter ‘’ and the number ‘’.

12 January 2010 • magick care fear healing influence

Raise my hackles, raise my shields

I have learnt to raise my shields in different ways depending on my energetic environment, the perceived threat and of course, depending on how I feel.

I use stealth shields, glossy, frictionless shields, spiky aggressive attacking shields, solid blocking shields, repulsive rebound shields and multi-layered elemental shields.

But regardless of how I shape, hone and imagine my psychic shielding, they’re basically up all the time in some form or another.

I’m very grateful to be naturally well shielded, although I do worry that my super-responsive shields are a response to my overly-sensitive threat register. Parts of my Ego perceives threat from the most innocuous quarters. I’m on high-alert far too often.

When I’m relaxed, in control, master of myself and my universe, I can raise, lower, amend and shift my shields at will, more or less… When I’m het up, I can’t lower them. This is a problem; it means I’m less accepting of energy I need; it means I can’t absorb base energies, and can’t accept healing.

I think this is a symptom of my lack of emotional knowledge. While “Know Thyself” is the highest command and the purpose of life, I fail when it comes to accepting and understanding all my emotional states. I repress. I choose (on some level) not to connect. I analyse my emotions from a distance. I discuss trauma as a story. I tell myself stories about how I feel, instead of feeling.

Intellectual understanding of my emotional state is of little benefit, without true emotional synthesis.

So, my shields are up, and they’re ‘protecting’ me from some very desirable and pleasant states :(

Here’s an audio footnote for your entertainment.

11 January 2010 • psychic shields magick emotionalretard protection energy block

Yesterday, a letter from Xoanon publishing dropped through my door, and today I opened it. I have the privilege to be able to purchase books from them, on a first come first served basis.

15 December 2009 • xoanon magick sabbatic craft books extortion

Magicko Lectures: Treadwells London

4 March 2009 • magick

Χάος / Xaos / Kaos / Khaos / CHAOS MAGICK BOOKS!

Farctal Chaos

Chaos Magick books in no particular order:

Postmodern Magic: The Art of Magic in the Information Age by Patrick Dunn
Chaotopia! by Dave Lee
Prime Chaos: Adventures in Chaos Magic by Phil Hine
The Theatre of Magick by Ray Sherwin
Liber Kaos: The Psychonomicon by Peter Carroll
Magia chaosu by Phil Hine
An Introduction to Chaos Magick by Adrian Savage
Condensed Chaos: An Introduction to Chaos Magic by Phil Hine
Liber Null and Psychonaut by Peter Carroll
Chaos Magick Books: Psybermagick: Advanced Ideas in Chaos Magick by Peter J. Carroll
The Pseudonomicon by Phil Hine
The Book of Results by Ray Sherwin
Practical Sigil Magic by Frater U.D.

Which have I missed? What else must be on this list? Help me find books (old and new) for my Chaos Library - please mail me on Chaos@xaos.org.uk or @ me on Twitter - I’m ‘ChaosMagick’.

Update: Want to go beyond Chaos Magick into the Chaos? Try ‘Psyche’s’ list.

Fractal Xaos